play0:42Is Rico Dowdle still worth a fantasy start?Matt Bowen breaks down why the return of Chuba Hubbard makes Rico Dowdle a low-end flex play for Week 9.
play0:39Malik Washington’s fantasy upside going forwardLiz Loza explains why fantasy managers should consider Malik Washington as a flex option in fantasy.
Will Saquon Barkley be a top-10 fantasy RB this season? (1:16)Eric Karabell breaks down Saquon Barkley’s big fantasy game vs. the Giants. (1:16)
Is Rico Dowdle still worth a fantasy start?Matt Bowen breaks down why the return of Chuba Hubbard makes Rico Dowdle a low-end flex play for Week 9.
Matt Bowen breaks down why the return of Chuba Hubbard makes Rico Dowdle a low-end flex play for Week 9.
Malik Washington’s fantasy upside going forwardLiz Loza explains why fantasy managers should consider Malik Washington as a flex option in fantasy.
Liz Loza explains why fantasy managers should consider Malik Washington as a flex option in fantasy.
Giants lose Skattebo, backup QBs stumble for Falcons, Panthers
Injury updates: McLaurin ready to roll, Watson on the verge of return
Everything that happens in the NFL has some additional context when viewed from a fantasy football perspective. From position battles to injuries and so much more, the news cycle will constantly affect player values in fantasy football.
Our Fantasy Football Buzz file, with contributions from our ESPN fantasy writers and our NFL Nation reporters, aims to provide fantasy managers with the intel they need as news breaks around the league.
With more severe ankle injuries, it is not uncommon to suffer a fracture of one or both of the lower leg bones simultaneously. If bone breaks through the skin, the injury — termed an open dislocation — immediately becomes more complex due to risk of infection. In addition to fixing the fracture and other urgent soft tissue repairs, the wound is cleaned out to minimize infection risk.
Skattebo’s rookie season will come to an unfortunate early conclusion as a result of this injury, but a timeline should become more clear as details of the surgery emerge.
Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles (groin): On the day Barkley finally got his groove back to the tune of 150 rushing yards and a trip to the end zone, he also picked up a groin injury. Although he exited the game early, Barkley downplayed the injury when talking to reporters in the locker room post-game, calling it “nothing crazy.” The Eagles have a bye in Week 9, so he will get some additional rest days to recover.
The Panthers maintained their frustrating running back rotation as Rico Dowdle once again outperformed Chuba Hubbard, averaging more than double Hubbard’s yards per attempt. Carolina continued alternating drives between the two backs. Dowdle has now been the more efficient runner in consecutive games since Hubbard’s return and looks like the more dynamic option. If the rotation continues, Dowdle should still see around 50% of snaps and remain on the flex radar.
De’Von Achane led the Dolphins backfield with 23 touches and 20.1 fantasy points, while Ollie Gordon II accumulated 11 touches for 13.1 fantasy points. Both backs found the end zone through the air. Jaylen Wright finished with 10 touches, though most of his work came on Miami’s final drive.
D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai finished with a similar number of snaps and routes run, but Swift recorded 13 touches to Monangai’s seven. Swift (15.1 fantasy points) continues to be more productive and involved when on the field compared to Monangai (2.4).
Isaiah Davis finished with 12 touches and 17.9 fantasy points against the Bengals while playing nearly 46% of the offensive snaps. The Jets enter their bye week with trade rumors surrounding Breece Hall, making this a great time to preemptively stash Davis if you have roster space. Braelon Allen remains on injured reserve with a knee injury, and his estimated recovery timeline is still in the eight to 12 week range.
Tyjae Spears finished with 12 touches and a season-high 17.2 fantasy points, while Tony Pollard matched him with 12 touches but managed just 6.3 points. Spears played 52% of the offensive snaps and led the Titans in rushing yards for the second straight week.
DJ Moore set season highs in targets (7) and receiving yards (73) after Luther Burden III left early in the third quarter with a concussion and was ruled out in the fourth. Burden’s status will be important to monitor for Week 9, as it could determine Moore’s fantasy viability against the Bengals.
The Texans played without Nico Collins (concussion) and Christian Kirk (hamstring), forcing a reshuffled receiver rotation. Jaylin Noel and Braxton Berrios split slot snaps, while Jared Wayne joined Jayden Higgins and Xavier Hutchinson on the outside. All four wideouts recorded at least eight fantasy points, and Noel may be carving out a larger role that lasts even after his veteran teammates return.
Stefon Diggs played less than 50% of the Patriots’ offensive snaps for the first time this season, likely due to the positive game script as the Patriots pulled away from the Browns in the second half. He finished with five targets and 10.4 fantasy points.
Troy Franklin led the Broncos’ wide receivers with eight targets and 26.9 fantasy points, fueled by two touchdowns. His snap share has steadily risen alongside Pat Bryant’s, while Marvin Mims Jr.’s has declined. It’s an encouraging sign for Franklin’s fantasy outlook in a red-hot Broncos offense.
Chimere Dike’s role continues to expand for the Titans. He played 88% of Tennessee’s offensive snaps against the Colts, seeing action in both two- and three-receiver sets. Dike finished with eight targets and 16.4 fantasy points and has now had at least 16 points in back-to-back games. There’s a good chance he continues to see meaningful snaps even when Calvin Ridley returns.
George Kittle celebrated National Tight Ends Day in style, playing nearly 90% of the 49ers’ offensive snaps and finished with five targets and 14.3 fantasy points. That performance should put his fantasy managers at ease.
Colston Loveland started for the Bears and played 81% of the offensive snaps with Cole Kmet ruled out due to a back injury. This was encouraging, but his five targets and 6.8 fantasy points were disappointing considering Caleb Williams had 38 pass attempts in this game. Moore, Rome Odunze and Olamide Zaccheaus combined for 24 targets. It’s difficult to trust Loveland in lineups due to his lack of target volume and the inconsistent play of Williams.
Dalton Kincaid played just 14 snaps in the Bills’ blowout win, as Buffalo leaned heavily on Dawson Knox and rookie Jackson Hawes when prioritizing run blocking over receiving options. Kincaid’s snap share in two-TE sets dropped significantly, though he still led the group in routes run. Kincaid remains difficult to trust in fantasy lineups, despite his big-play ability, especially when the Bills shift to game control.
Mason Taylor finished with eight targets and 14.4 fantasy points. It was his second straight game playing 75% or more of the offensive snaps.
David Njoku returned from a knee injury but played a reduced role, sharing snaps evenly with rookie Harold Fannin Jr. Fannin led the Browns with six receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown, while Njoku added four catches for 37 yards and a score. With trade rumors swirling and the Browns on bye, Njoku’s fantasy outlook is uncertain and could decline if he lands with a team that has more target competition. Meanwhile, Fannin continues to trend upward.
On Sunday of Week 4, star wide receiver Malik Nabers tore the ACL and meniscus in his right knee, an injury that required season-ending reconstructive surgery. This Sunday, the Giants lost rookie running back Cam Skattebo, the No. 5 running back in fantasy points from Weeks 3 to 7 (100.9), to what might be a season-ending ankle injury. Skattebo was injured when his ankle was caught under a defender in the second quarter, and he was carted off the field in an air cast.
Skattebo was quickly ruled out and diagnosed with a dislocated ankle, and it seems likely that his season is done. The Giants managed only 13 points and 149 total yards across six offensive drives after the running back’s departure; surrendered three touchdowns to the rival Philadelphia Eagles on their five offensive drives during that same time span; and will be in much tougher circumstances going forward should Skattebo’s season indeed be done.
The injuries are a real shame for rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, who now loses two of his best playmakers in the passing game. Dart’s mobility should still keep him in the superflex/2QB radar, or make him a matchups play in standard formats, but he’s less likely to accomplish much as a passer going forward.
Oronde Gadsden II caught all five of his targets for 77 yards and a touchdown while playing 76% of the offensive snaps and leading the Chargers in routes run. He’s now posted three straight games with 11+ fantasy points, including two with 18 or more. Gadsden remains firmly on the TE1 radar in Week 9 against a Titans defense that has allowed the ninth-most total yards per game.
Kimani Vidal operated as the Chargers’ lead back with Hassan Haskins ruled out (hamstring) and Omarion Hampton on injured reserve. He dominated the backfield in snaps, routes run and touches (24), finishing with 19.7 fantasy points. The second-year running back next faces a Titans defense that’s allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to running backs.
Johnston was on the field for nearly as many snaps as McConkey and Tre’ Harris and ran the third-most routes for the Chargers, yet Johnston finished with zero targets. His quiet outing may have been due to a lingering hamstring issue and Los Angeles’ run-heavy approach against Minnesota. Still, his total lack of involvement is concerning, making him a risky flex option next week.
Cam Skattebo, RB, New York Giants (right ankle): Skattebo’s right leg got twisted underneath him (and an Eagles defender) as he was tackled in the second quarter and, in what has become an all too familiar sight this year among player injuries, his foot ended up pointing the wrong direction. The medical staff immediately placed him in an air splint and carted him off the field. The Giants later reported that Skattebo had suffered a right ankle dislocation and had been transported to a hospital in Philadelphia where he underwent surgery Sunday night. According to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, sources say it was an open dislocation and Skattebo is doing well despite the circumstances of an emergency situation.